Holy Toledo!

The expression that is the title of this post can have two very different meanings for your FIU Golden Panthers on Saturday night around 10:30 p.m. -- that would be eastern time and not GPP time.

First of all, let's not even relate "Holy Toledo!" to Batman, because Robin does not belong in anything Batman-related. But I digress, so let's get back to FIU. The Golden Panthers could be celebrating with a "Holy Toledo!" after their road win or they could muttering to themselves "Holy Toledo!" if the Rockets go off and score 54 like they did last week against No. 25 Fresno State.

The Golden Panthers will need to score and score often against the Rockets on Saturday to win their first road game since 2005 (La-Monroe), because Toledo scores in bunches -- 37 points per game to be exact.

It is too much to ask of the FIU D to keep the Golden Panthers in games each week with their steady, rugged play. FIU's D can derail high-scoring Toledo, but it will need help from the Golden Panthers with the ball.

Whether it's run or pass, FIU has to move the chains, get first downs and punch it in the end zone quite often tommorrow. The Golden Panthers can do this. It's all about execution -- and not the execution former Tampa Bay Bucs coach John McKay once famously said about his team when asked about his team's execution, McKay quipped: "I'm all in favor of it".

On offense, FIU's OL needs to open the holes for the RBs, the RBs need to hit those holes, OL must give the QBs time to throw, QBs must hit the open WRs and the WRs, if need be, borrow Lester Hayes's stick-um and hold on to the passes. It sounds like such a simple game, eh?

One thing FIU's D MUST and I repeat MUST, keep an eye out for is trick plays. The favorite holiday around Toledo is Halloween, because the Rockets are all about tricks in order to get some touchdown treats. You good people all saw how it worked for the Dolphins last week against the cheating Belichecks. The same can happen to FIU if it is not on guard for the Toledo trickery.

In our last GPP poll, more than 50 percent of GPP Nation thinks FIU's 1st W comes tommorrow. Sorry GPP Nation, but I'm not among those 53 percent. Just can't see FIU's O hanging with Toledo's O.

GPP thinks: Toledo 34, FIU 12

GOLDEN PANTHER PAWSE

FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS PROWL

The latest example of how GPP Nation can make a difference. Thanks to FIUer noticing that the GPP does not come up on FIU google or yahoo searches, we have added "FIU" to the title of our blog. If you go to the blog page on the Miami Herald website or to the sports section of the MH website, you'll notice we are now called "FIU Golden Panthers Prowl". But for brevity's sake we'll still go as the GPP on our posts. Sort of like how FIU is FIU.

2006PA: Got a question... The rendered image of the stadium after phase I completion has the metal columns under the bleachers painted blue and a huge FIU logo on the front of the stadium. I know its a rendering and isn't going to be 100% exact, but are they going to "beautify" the stadium further during this season?

GPP: For this season and possibly until the north side is complete, the beautification of FIU Stadium will likely consist of huge banners like those currently adorning the south side of the stadium. Where you  are going to see the real beauty of FIU Stadium will be when the Student Support Complex/Welcome Center is done in 2010/2011, because that will be the main entrance to the stadium. For now here is an aerial beauty of a photo of FIU Stadium, taken on last Saturday's game day, courtesy of fiusports.com. Click on the photo to get a nice big pic of the stadium.

Max: Pete, just to let you know, FIU's PantherPass has this game scheduled to air live on Saturday. You could sign up for FIU's service instead of Toledo's.

GPP: Actually, the service is still Toledo's and they get all the $$ from sign-ups. FIU is routing the service through fiusports.com. But you can sign up at FIU's site and give them the web hits.

Puma: Hey Pete, I know you keep teasing us that we'll get coverage for a week once we get a big win. I want that win as much as the next guy but shouldn't FIU coverage be based on demand?

GPP: Puma, I am in complete agreement with you, especially with more than 140,000 FIU alumni in SFLA and that's the big number I bring up at the MH when asking for more FIU space or the front page in the paper. However, the stock response I usually receive is when FIU wins more then they'll get more coverage.

SouthPaw: Pete, do you have any new updates on how Colt Anderson is doing in practice compared to Paul and Wayne? Seemed like he was right on their heels and how his name is never mentioned. Are the coaches planning on giving him a redshirt?

GPP: SouthPaw, I asked MC about CA the other day and MC said CA has not caught PM or WY yet. In practice, CA shows some flashes, making some great throws and showing some mobility, but then there are some days when he still looks like a QB that has thrown just 15 passes in college. CA has all the potential to be the No. 1 guy on this team and because of that don't be surprised if he is redshirted this season.

NYCFIUFan: What time is kickoff for the FIU-Toledo game? Can anyone tell me?

GPP: 7 p.m. for kickoff and 6:59 GPP Time for scores.

**When it comes to who will finally settle in as FIU's starting QB that will be decided on the field by the performances, but if you were MC for a day what do you think?

Online Surveys & Market Research

Comments

[Gazi]

FIU - 14
Toledo - 35

[Quijote]

Pete you didn't answer my question...

Anyways, with that in mind, here's my pick:

Toledo 30
FIU 14

[Pete Pelegrin]

Quijote,

Check the previous blog "Paul Younger Has Left The Stage" where I answered your question about not posting a score.

[FIUrulez]

FIU 17 Toledo 38

[gpantera]

GPC (Golden Panther Community)

We all love Pete but don't be persuaded by his prediction that FIU will loose at Toledo. Here was his Pete's prediction for the USF game:

"GPP thinks: South Florida 52, FIU 10"

Pete is cool but he's not always right.

[FIUPantherFan]

Toledo - 34
FIU - 20

[Quijote]

Thanks Pete, you're right I missed it. Here's my prediction once again:

Toledo 30
FIU 14

gpantera, Pete blew it big time didn't he? haha

[FIU Fanatic]

Toledo 34 FIU 17

[Miri]

Pete, do you have the picture of the stadium in a bigger size? Thanks. :)

[Clawing Cancer]

Hey, be nice to PP. We're all allowed to be wrong sometimes. :)

[inspubadj]

Toledo 23
FIU 18

[The OC Panther]

toledo 24
fiu 7

[FIU Fanatic]

Go Panthers!!! Let's make it happen tonight guys!!!! Good luck.

[FIUJM]

Wish we can find a way to win tonight. Would be a huge win for our program.

GO FIU!!!!!

[FIUer]

It's amazing that these UM people come on here talking smack about us filling up only 90% of our stadium yet they are on ESPN right now playing at maybe, MAYBE, 50% capacity. Looks horrible with all those orange empty seats. Worst move they could have ever done was go to Joe Robbie. That game atmosphere must be total crap. I'll take our little 20k stadium on-campus ANY DAY over that cavernous rented stadium. Now we just need to win!

[inspubadj]

U 24/7

Dolphin Stadium Packed (NOT)

Randy Shannon more than a recruiter (NOT)

Winning streak at Dolphin Stadium Continued (NOT)

Randy Shannon owns Butch Davis (NOT)

By the way the next time you comment on our coaches interviews. Listen to yours after a Game!

Go Panthers!!!!

[TheChampionUnderdog]

ouch.... UM just lost again to North Carolina in their first ACC game.
CrazyCane, come out come out wherever you are....lol

[nycfiufan]

Awwwwwww UM lost, how sad :(

[gpantera]

I hope Manny Navarro has heart burn today.

[nycfiufan]

I know it is water under the bridge Manny BUT the crowd at dolphin stadium..... THAT WAS PATHETIC

[nycfiufan]

I just want the Gold & Blue nation to know, I am in NYC but my heart is in Toledo.

[gpantera]

nycfan,
that's a good and clever line.

[El Krakov]

I'm Hispanic and I have a lot of school spirit and more than that; passion.I was one of the individuals shouting terrible words to an injured player..believe me it was never done with a bad intention. In the heat of the moment you don't understand what is going on in the field..people started screaming some 5 seconds right after it happened, then it was like 20 minutes on complete silence. Then the ambulance came... and myself as everyone in the stands understood what was really happening. Then everybody stayed silent. That's it NO mystery. Prayers to Mompremiere.
I don't care if FIU loses 10,000 games I love FIU, I want FIU to be the most prestigious football program in Florida, I envision it everyday. The problem I see here is the prejudice and generalization towards International students. There exists unpassionate national students. I was in the stands and there were Americans, Hindus, Argentinians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Venezuelans, Colombians, Japanese, Cubans and I can go on forever, FIU is extremely diverse; and they had a lot of passion, not to be confused with partying. Maybe some individuals need to understand that people live their sports in different manners. Hispanics go to soccer games since they are kids, and they don't chantD#, D#, D#, D# they rather sing a song that has more rhythm. It is what it is. Still I sing my lungs out, because I love the Panthers. I will give my everything to make the players feel the home court. I want them to feel the BLUE and GOLD. And hey! FIU is probably the only Division IA school with a crazy soccer chant. OLE...OLE..OLE..OLE...FIU...FIU!!
Take care and G-d bless.

[TheChampionUnderdog]

Nice post El Krakov.... amen to that brotha

[CrazyCane]

Hiding? I was in the car coming back from the game. It is funny how this FIU blog talks about UM so much - why is that? You all always criticize UM fans for posting on your blog, and hos you all do not care about UM, but if you read this blog - it sure looks like FIU cares what UM is doing. Also I do not see any-1 posting about how the "Mighty" Gators go beat today by a non ranked team. Can someone please tell me a non ranked team losing to another non ranked team gets more press on this blog than a top 5 team losing to an unranked team. Did you FIU people who think you know college football even know hat UF lost today?

I guess we will see what happens tonight against Toledo - maybe FIU will win and then you will be 1-3 and still the worst team in the country.

[Quijote]

The only reason why scUM beat Texas A&M is because Texas is a BAD team that even got ruffed up by a SunBelt squad.

All of us panthers predicted that although Randy can recruit, he can't coach. He is a stick figure on the sidelines, shows NO emotion even when his players were down today. You MUST believe that the team picks up on that lack of energy from their leader, and it showed on the field.

And can Randy really recruit, I mean eight of his top players are all from the same friggin' school in his own backyard lol. Teams that can recruit are those that are in the middle of nowhere and find talent in the haystacks (UNC for example).

Yeah and the turnout at Dolphin stadium was totally pathetic, looks AWFUL on tv. By the looks of it, the bandwagon scUMbag fans are already ditching their team. How about you write about how much your turnout and TEAM and COACH SUCK Manny?

[Quijote]

Crazy,

We don't talk about the Gators because they NEVER come on our board and talk about us, NEVER. So why don't you and your lowlife friends pack your bags and join Manny's sleeping bag, along with Sebastian

[Fomenter]

Wow, you guys have a nonstop growing inferiority complex with UM. Let them go, they have nothing to do with FIU.

[FIUChris]

Drop the UM crap, guys. It just muddies the water. We should be focusing on FIU, here.

Tonight could go either way. My official prediction is going to be:

FIU 24-Toledo 20

But, in all honesty, we could lose and we could lose big. I'm allowing myself a momentary lapse in judgement by calling for a win, since it would be the biggest win in program history (on the road against a non-conference team), but I've got a feeling.

[FIUVoice]

Fomenter,

Great point, you are right FIU has nothing to do with UM. So why is it that so many UM fans come onto the FIU blog and talk smack. You realize that UM has their own blog on this site. Stick to it and it will all be water under the bridge.

[Quijote]

Hey guys I'm streaming "Rocket Vision" right now, its VERY blurry. You can buy the game for $7.95 lol there is a guy saying "test test 1 2 3 4 5" and is blabbing and doesn't seem to know he's live haha

Here's the link if you want to buy the stream.

http://www.utrockets.com/HomePage.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18000&DB_ACCOUNT_TYPE=USER

[Quijote]

Stadium is pretty empty...practically no home field advantage really. Good for FIU

[Quijote]

Game is about to start, and the feed has done black. Anyone else having similar issues and blurry vision?

[Quijote]

Ok feed is back, but guy still doesn't know he's live lol. Calling one of their coaches fat.

[Quijote]

ok here we go, FIU on offense first.

[Quijote]

no sorry we are on defense first lol and this thing is blacking out a lot on me. i'll update big plays on this forum.

[Quijote]

fwiw, the feed is using the NEW fiu logo and they aren't using the FIU letters, just the panther at is looks bad ass.

[Quijote]

toledo returns kickoff to the 50

[Quijote]

woah I just heard the same band cheer at FIU, unless Toledo and FIU share fight songs, FIU brought the band over there.

[Ultimate FIU Fan]

Guys its football season! This is a sports blog! FAUowl I truly hope you’re not an international studies or sociology major because you need to re-think your major. WOW, you have painted Hispanics with a mile-wide stroke. I'm Hispanic and I believe I COMPLETELY understand the U.S. collegiant athletic experience. You have confused international students which FIU as LESS THAN 7% of (UM has approx 10-11% international students btw um boys!) with being a student of Hispanic descent.

Someone explained it EXACTLY correct when they stated that the ONLY thing that counts here in South Florida is WINNINIG. Ask the Fins, Heat, Marlins, Florida Panthers and UM (did you see the empty stadium today!). Forget all the "Hispanic stuff” if FIU or any other team in South Florida wins then the fans will come.

Now back to business; HERE COMES THE KICK-OFF!!!!

GO FIU!!!

[Quijote]

omg trick play, 50 yard pass touchdown Toledo.

[Quijote]

3 and out...two long throws by mccall over and under. blah

[Quijote]

Toledo 10, FIU 0

Toledo doing as they please on offense.

[Quijote]

oh god according to rocket vision, we are most famous for our brawl with scUM

[Quijote]

13 - 0

mario has to be furious here, toledo misses a 43 yard field goal, but somehow officials rule it a dead ball giving toledo another shot and the drill the 48 yard field goal.

that wasn't right.

[Quijote]

Reams doesn't "feel" the field. He always seems to run into the pile, when often there are holes to penetrate.

McCain complete for a 35 yard gain. 1st down

[Quijote]

McCall screen pass to TY HILTON and HE'S GONE!!! TOUCHDOWN FIU!!
13 - 7 FIU!!!

[Quijote]

TOLEDO FUMBLES ON THE KICKOFF RETURN!!!

FIU RECOVERS, ALMOST IN THE RED ZONE! AND THE FIU SIDELINE IS PUMPED!!!

[Quijote]

man FIU getting hammered with the illegal procedures...mental errors MUST be corrected. from 2 & 5 in the redzone to 2nd and 15 at the 40 awful.

[Quijote]

ok we couldn't do anything with that fumble, toledo starts from the 5

[Quijote]

am I blogging to a wall?

[Quijote]

FIU at the 24 yard line, we stopped them nicely. nice hilton return

[Quijote]

ok ill only update every quarter lol

[Quijote]

OUR FIRST LEAD OF THE SEASON!!!

14-13 FIU BABY ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Golden Panther 90]

Any new updates?

[Quijote]

halftime Toledo 16, FIU 14.

[SouthPaw]

T.Y. looks like the game is in slow motion for him. That guys is just a playmaker. You can't teach what he has. Gonna be fun watching him over the next 4 years.

[Quijote]

OUT OF THE HALFTIME GATES!!! IN 30 SECONDS, WE SCORE

HILTON RETURNS 50 YARDS

REAMS UP THE MIDDLE 30 YARDS TOUCHDOWN!!!

FIU 21 TOLEDO 16

[NYCFIUFan]

Hilton is a STAR!!!!!!!!!1

[Quijote]

FUMBLE RECOVERED!!! First and GOAL, FIU!!!

wow we are playing ok tonight

[Quijote]

Another friggin' FIU TOUCHDOWN!!!

fiu 28

toledo 16

[Max]

FIU up 28-16 now. Julian Reams has three touchdowns. Come over to the www.fiugoldenpanthers.com/forum board to talk about it some more too!

[Quijote]

FUMBLE ON THE TOLEDO RETURN!!!

FIU BALL BABY!!!!

BRING ON ALABAMA

[Max]

Fumble on the ensuing kickoff! FIU Ball again!

[Quijote]

TOUCHDOWN BABY!!!

FIU 35, TOLEDO 16

BRING ON THE ENTIRE SEC

[Pantera Dorada]

Panteras Doradas tu papa!!!!! I can't believe I'm seeing this FIU 35-16!!!

[NYCFIUFan]

Wholly TOLEDO!! Way to coach it up Mario! Keep it up. GO FIU!!!

[Gold]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Quijote]

FIU 2008 Sunbelt Champs

[Max]

Fourth quarter, we gotta keep scoring. Don't let Toledo back into this game.

[Gold]

Come on FIU, finish this game strong!

[FIUFloridaPower&Light]

FIU FIU1

[Max]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, this game isn't even over yet.

[FIUfantastic]

FF, II, UU - FIU

[Baltimorepanther]

I wish this was on TV, but thanks to those reporting to the rest of us

[Max]

Baltimorepanther, you should invest in PantherPass, i've been watching the whole game flawlessly online.

[FIUFloridaPower&Light]

so we are up by 19 point with 10 minutes left according to ESPN.

[Baltimorepanther]

I'll try it next game.

[Max]

Up 19 with 8 min left, i'm watching live.

[FIUfanatic]

Let's not get that crazy about the conference title.
We gotta beat the toughest teams this year / TROY, MTSU, ULM & FAU.

Go panthers!!

[FIUFloridaPower&Light]

whos playing? Younger? McCall?

[Max]

Younger has only played 1 down this game so far. C'mon guys, think of FIU's history, let's not call this game over until that final whistle blows.

[Gold]

picked off, FIU ball

[Max]

FIU Interception!

[Quijote]

interception FIU ball, and that's the game folks!

fiufanatic, I was being sarcastic haha

[Gold]

holy toledo! high five everyone!

[Max]

FIU Interception!

[Max]

FIU Interception!

[Golden Panther 90]

how much time left

[Baltimorepanther]

Feels good to have the first win of the season, this is already an improvement from last year, the coaches have a done a good job past couple of games, and the players have responded to the challenge, that's what everybody wants for FIU
GO FIU

[NYCFIUFan]

FIU wins, UM losses, what a great day!!!

Clearly there is improvement with this FIU team, in speed, fundamentals, AND (FINALLY) DISCIPLINE!!!

[Max]

Whoa, the board posted my thing 5 times, what the hell. Under 4 minutes, Toledo ball, same score.

[Golden Panther 90]

how much time left

[Max]

Less than 1:30 left, FIU has the ball, we won baby!!! Congrats FIU!!!!!!!!! Now let's beat North Texas!!!!!!!!!!

[FIUFloridaPower&Light]

how close are we to getting another TD?

[SouthPaw]

FIU wins 35-16. Very impressive performance for the offensive line tonight. The defense looked good and McCall, Reams, and Ned did a great job of taking care of the ball.

Let's enjoy this one, gentlemen!

[Max]

CRAP! I clicked one of the stupid ads and had to reload everything. I don't know what the hell is going on!

[fiuchris]

Ball game!

Awesome to see us get that first win earlier. Gonna make it a much easier road to travel from here on out.

[esteban688]

WE WON!!!!

[FIUJay]

Wow! Been waiting for this one for a while. Good job FIU.